Utility bracket

ABSTRACT

A utility bracket designed for use in modular office arrangements wherein planar walls are used to form office cubicles is substantially planar and has a configuration, such as triangular, to fit within a corner formed by intersecting walls. Two of the legs of the triangle, for example, each has an array of a plurality of spaced U-shaped support member which fit down over the top of the walls to support the bracket in the cubicle corner. The support members are offset relative to each other along the lengths of the corresponding legs so that when two or more brackets are used to fill corners at, for example, a four corner intersection, the support members of two adjacent brackets interdigitate.

RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application is a utility patent application, inventivefeatures of which are shown in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 60/204,315, filed May 15, 2000, of which priority is claimed herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a utility bracket for use in modularoffices or work stations. More particular, it relates to such a bracketfor utilitarian or decorative purposes, or both, that can be removablylocated within an office cubicle, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The continuing quest for efficient use of space in an officemilieu has led to various forms of modular offices or work spaces forcreating several such within a given space. In general, such modularoffices are formed as cubicles by attaching together pre-fabricated wallportions, generally at right angles to each other. The wall portions areusually five to seven feet in height, and special clips are used to jointhe walls together. Such an arrangement of cubicles represents anefficient use of space, although the general tendency is to make eachcubicle just large enough to contain a bare minimum of furniture orappliances. Further, uniformity dictates that the pre-fabricated wallsbe a neutral color, with the net result that each cubicle is composed ofthree or four drab walls. Shelves and the like may be installed in placeby special clips which attach to the metal frames of the walls, butlittle or no provision is made for hanging pictures, supporting flowerpots, or other measures for relieving the drabness without compromisingavailable space. Although the shelves can support such things as flowerpots, usually the shelf dictates where the floor pot or other decorativedevice is to be located and often is of insufficient supportingstrength. Further, such flower space occupying items such as, forexample, a clothes tree, only serve to crowd the cubicle more andcontribute to an almost claustrophobic effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is directed to an efficient use of space,particularly in a modular type of office arrangement whereinpre-fabricated wall members are used to create a plurality of individualcubicles. The invention is a bracket member of a suitable sturdymoldable material such as any of a number of plastics, although othersuitable materials may be used, which fits down over the corner formedby the junction of two wall members. The bracket, which, for example andpreferably, is triangular in shape, is substantially planar and has atop surface, a bottom surface, and first and second rear surfaces whichare preferably normal to each other and form the legs of a righttriangle, of which a front leg or edge is the hypotenuse. In accordancewith the invention, each of the rear legs has a number of spacedU-shaped support fingers or support brackets depending down below thebottom surface. The two legs of the U-shape are spaced apart a distancethat is slightly greater than the width of the module wall, so that thebracket of the invention fits snugly on, and is supported by, theintersecting walls.

[0005] A feature of the present invention is that the array of spacedU-shaped fingers on one of the rear legs of the utility bracket isdifferent from the array of fingers on the other rear leg. As will beexplained fully hereinafter, the arrays different primarily in thepositioning of the U-shaped fingers and the spaces therebetween. As willbe apparent from the following, when two or more utility brackets areused with, for example, four cubicles formed by intersecting walls, thefingers of each interdigitate with the fingers of adjoining utilitybrackets so that at the wall intersection, where four cubicle cornersare formed, four utility brackets, one for each cubicle, can be used andare equally supported. As will be more clearly seen hereinafter, theutility brackets are identical to each other in their basicconfiguration, thereby requiring the one mold for the molding thereof,where the brackets are of suitable plastic material, of only one bracketconfiguration. Thus, it is not necessary that a plurality of differentbracket configurations be produced. It is, however, possible, as will beseen from the following, to accessorize individual brackets for specialuser and, to that extent, differently configured brackets may beproduced.

[0006] The principles and features of the present invention will be morereadily apparent from the following detailed description, read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the utility bracket of the invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is an elevation view of one of the rear legs of thetriangular bracket of FIG. 1;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bracket of the invention, shown insolid lines, as used with three other brackets at a four corner cubiclewall intersection;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the arrangement of FIG. 3;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a partially perspective, partially cross-section viewillustrating the mounting of the utility bracket of the invention at acubicle corner;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a partial view of one accessory arrangement for thebracket of the invention;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a partial view of a modification of the top surface ofthe bracket of the invention;

[0014]FIG. 8 is a partial view of a modified front edge of the bracketof the invention; and

[0015]FIG. 9 is a partial view of a different modification of the frontedge of the bracket of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The utility bracket 10 of the present invention is shown in planand side elevation views in FIGS. 1 and FIG. 2 respectively. As can beseen, the bracket 10 is basically shaped as a right triangle having afront leg or hypotenuse 11, and first and second rear legs 12 and 13.Bracket 10 is preferably made, as by molding, of a plastic material suchas PVC, although it is to be understood that other materials such aswood, metal, or other plastics, including Styrofoam may be used,provided the material has sufficient rigidity and strength to bearmoderately heavy loads. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the right triangleshape has a truncated portion 14 and top and bottom surfaces 16 and 17respectively. Along leg 12 and extending downward therefrom are aplurality of spaced U-shaped fingers or support brackets 18, preferablyof equal width, with the spaces 19 therebetween being of the same widthas the fingers 18. The array of fingers 18 is indented at the junctionof leg 12 with the front leg 11, the indentation 21 being substantiallyequal to one-half the width of a finger 18. In a similar manner, anindentation 22 spaces the end fingers 18 from the truncated portion 14.Indentation 22 also has a width of approximately one-half the width ofthe end finger 18. The width dimensions of indentations 21 and 22 may beless or more than as stated, however, for simplicity in forming, thedimensions given are adequate, as will be apparent hereinafter. Alongrear leg 13 is a second array of spaced U-shaped fingers 23 and 24, thewidth of the spaces 26 between the fingers being equal to the width ofthe fingers 23. One of the end fingers 24 begins at the junction 20 withleg 11, and extends for a distance along leg 13 equal to one-half thewidth of fingers 23. In like manner, the other end finger 24 begins atthe intersection 25 of leg 13 with truncated portion 14 and extendsalong leg 13 for a distance equal to one-half the width of the fingers23.

[0017]FIGS. 1 and 2 also show bracing members 27 which extend along thebottom surface 17 to add strength to the bracket 10. Member 27 may bemade of any suitable strength material, and may be glued in place.Inasmuch as members 27 are exposed to the eye, it is to be preferredthat they not be offensive thereto, hence, the material chosen shouldnot be unattractive. For additional utility of the overall assembly,holes 28 may be drilled through members 27 to permit hanging ofcoat-hangers, for example.

[0018] As best seen in FIG. 2, each of the U-shaped fingers or supportbrackets 18, 23, and 24 has first and second spaced legs 31 and 32, withthe space 33 therebetween being approximately the width of one of thecubicle walls. It is possible to eliminate leg 32 provided leg 31 ismade long enough to provide the necessary support for bracket 10. It isalso possible that front legs 32 and rear legs 31 be alternated.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bracket 10 of the invention, shown insolid lines and three other virtually identical brackets shown in dashedlines, illustrating the configuration for a four cubicle assembly,cubicles 3, 4, 5, and 6 with a single, common intersection 2 of walls 7and 8. It can be seen in FIG. 3 that rear leg 12 of bracket 10 in thecorner of cubicle 3 is opposite leg 13 of the bracket in the corner ofcubicle 6 and rear leg 13 is opposite leg 12 of the bracket in thecorner of cubicle 4. It will always be the case that a rear leg havingthe array of fingers 18 will be opposite the other rear leg having thearray of fingers 23 and, as a consequence, the fingers interdigitatewhen position on the cubicle wall 7 or 8. Thus, fingers 18 will locatein spaces 26, and fingers 23 and 24 will locate in spaces 19, 21, and22, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0020] In FIG. 3, bracket 10 (and other brackets as well) is shown witha hole 36 bored therethrough for holding, for example, a flower pot (notshown). A boss 35 extends below the bottom surface 17 and hole 36 has areduced diameter portions 37 extending through boss 35 for additionalsupport of the flower pot, as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, to add stillmore strength, a pair of ribs 38 extend radially outward from the boss35 along bottom surface 17 and are, preferably, affixed thereto. Ribs 38may also have holes 39 therein, as is also shown in FIG. 2, for hangingcoat-hangers, for example.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a partially perspective, partially cross-sectional viewof a portion of the utility bracket 10 mounted on walls 7 and 8 at thecorner formed by the intersection 2. Each of the fingers 18 and 23 hasits distal end formed in the shape of an inverted V, which dependinglegs 31 and 32 spaced from each other a distance substantially equal,although slightly greater than the width or thickness of the walls 7 and8. Thus, once the walls 7 and 8 are in place, bracket 10, and otherbracket also, may be mounted on the tops of the walls with the V-shapedfingers providing the necessary support.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a partial elevation view depicting how a clothes hook41, for example, may be mounted on the inner leg 32 to extend into thecubicle, and FIG. 7 depicts a lip 42 formed on the perimeter of thesurface 16 to prevent objects on that surface from slipping off. Lip 42may be molded on the bracket 10 during the molding process, or it may bemade of a suitable shape and size and affixed to top surface 16.

[0023]FIGS. 9 and 10 depict possible decorative shapes for the leg 11 ofthe bracket, a scalloped edge or a curved edge, respectively.

[0024] It is to be understood that the various features of the presentinvention might be incorporated into other types of decorative orutilitarian brackets and that other adaptations and modifications mightoccur to workers in the art. All such variations and modifications areintended to be included herein as being within the scope of theinvention as set forth herein. Further, in the claims hereinafter, thecorresponding structures, materials, acts and equivalents of all meansor step plus function elements are intended to include any structure,material, or acts for performing the functions in combination with otherelements as specifically claimed.

1. A utility bracket comprising: a substantially planar member havingtop and bottom surfaces, and a front leg, and first and second rearlegs; said first rear leg having a first array of spaced support memberalong at least a portion of the length thereof and depending below saidbottom surface, at least some of said support members having a firstwidth and being spaced from each other a distance substantially equal tosaid first width; said second rear leg having a second array of spacedsupport members along at least a portion of the length thereof anddepending below said bottom surface, at least some of said members ofsaid second array having a second width substantially equal to the widthof said spacing between members of said second array; said first andsecond arrays being offset longitudinally relative to each other ontheir respective legs.
 2. A utility bracket as claimed in claim 1,wherein the first and last of said first support members in said firstarray are each spaced from the ends of said first rear leg a thirddistance.
 3. A utility bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein said thirddistance is equal to approximately one half of said first width.
 4. Autility bracket as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first rear legs andsaid second rear leg are of equal length.
 5. A utility bracket asclaimed in claim 3 wherein the first and last of said second supportmembers in said second array are at the ends of said second rear leg andeach has a width equal to said third distance.
 6. A utility bracket asclaimed in claim 1 wherein each of said support members comprises amember having at least one support leg depending therefrom.
 7. A utilitybracket as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said support members has asecond support leg depending therefrom sand spaced from said at leastone support leg.
 8. A utility bracket as claimed in claim 7 wherein saidat least one support leg and said second support leg form a U-shapedsupport.
 9. A utility bracket comprising: a substantially planar memberhaving top and bottom surfaces and a substantially right triangularconfiguration with a front leg or hypotenuse and first and second rearlegs of substantially equal length; said first rear leg having a firstarray of spaced U-shaped support brackets having a first width dependingbelow said bottom surface, the spacing between said support bracketsbeing of a second width substantially equal to said first width; saidfirst array being indented at each end from the corresponding end ofsaid first rear by a third distance; said second rear leg having asecond array of spaced U-shaped support brackets, the U-shaped bracketsat each end of said second array having a width substantially equal tosaid third distance and the remaining U-shaped brackets having a widthequal to said first width; and the support brackets in said first arraybeing offset longitudinally along said first rear leg relative to thesupport brackets in said second array.
 10. A utility bracket as claimedin claim 9 and further comprising an elongated bracing member extendedalong said bottom surface and affixed thereto.
 11. A utility bracket asclaimed in claim 10 further comprising one or more holes in said bracingmember.
 12. A utility bracket as claimed in claim 9 and furthercomprising a hole bored through said planar member.
 13. A utilitybracket as claimed in claim 12 and further including a boss affixed tosaid bottom surface and depending therefrom.
 14. A utility bracket asclaimed in claim 13 wherein said hole bored in said planar memberextends at least partially through said boss.
 15. A utility bracket asclaimed in claim 14 and further including strengthening ribs extendingalong and affixed to said bottom surface outwardly from said boss.
 16. Autility bracket as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least one of said ribshas at least one hole bored therethrough.
 17. A utility bracket asclaimed in claim 9 wherein said front leg is curved.
 18. A utilitybracket as claimed in claim 9 wherein said front leg has a decorativeedge.
 19. A utility bracket as claimed in claim 18 wherein the edge ofsaid front leg is scalloped.